Opamp question.

[Demon-Xanth]

So I've been working with op amps for about a decade or so, and I've been wondering something...

Given the thousands of different op amps available by a dozen manufacturers, what makes Burr Brown op amps give audiophiles such a hard on?

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Jokes aside, no idea, and I hear it mentioned a lot... especially when something has more than one because it's for each channel or something.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Jokes aside, no idea, and I hear it mentioned a lot... especially when something has more than one because it's for each channel or something.

Actually, that makes sense given that most op amps are in single or dual, and driver op amps (eg: LM386) usually are singles.

 

[Cuular]

Generally the Burr browns are supposed to have a more "laid back" general sound, and let more details of the signal come through that other op amps mask or hide. In plain person talk, they sound more like tube amps, and more details of the sound come through. In general.

 

[TuxDave]

I like how I know about opamps and every spec on the data sheet but have no clue on how it translates into sound.

<-- EE but not an audiophile

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: TuxDave
I like how I know about opamps and every spec on the data sheet but have no clue on how it translates into sound.

<-- EE but not an audiophile

Same here. I could draw the schematic for one yet I have no clue what any of it means for sound.

 

[polarmystery]

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: TuxDave
I like how I know about opamps and every spec on the data sheet but have no clue on how it translates into sound.

<-- EE but not an audiophile

Same here. I could draw the schematic for one yet I have no clue what any of it means for sound.

Yes you do. Don't doubt yourself. Think of signal analysis and you'll remember.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: TuxDave
I like how I know about opamps and every spec on the data sheet but have no clue on how it translates into sound.

<-- EE but not an audiophile

Same here. I could draw the schematic for one yet I have no clue what any of it means for sound.

I tried to understand. I used to work for an audiophile and whenever he started to do some technical talk, my brain would just crash.

Basically, from what I got from working on my own, you have to look at THD (if it is even given on a white sheet) and slew rate as well as how it handles input noise. Just to let you know, it is kind of a field in it self. It is by far the most mathemtical intensive field I have ever studied. It all comes down to linear systems stuff, though.

 

[jamesbond007]

Perhaps the prestige and social factors that go into it when owning one? I just got a Mini3 and I absolutely LOVE the sound over my old cMoy amp. It's way more spatial and natural. Perfect fit for my HD590 headphones!

 

[sygyzy]

Wow an opamp thread on ATOT! I love it!

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: jamesbond007
Perhaps the prestige and social factors that go into it when owning one? I just got a Mini3 and I absolutely LOVE the sound over my old cMoy amp. It's way more spatial and natural. Perfect fit for my HD590 headphones!

I dunno, I just ordered 100 op amps (which happen to be Burr Brown) and they only ran $280 total. Not sure if they'd be any good for audio though.

 

[aphex]

I prefer the sound of vacuum tubes.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: aphex
I prefer the sound of vacuum tubes.

most people would....

 

[Howard]

http://tangentsoft.net/audio/opamps.html

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: Howard
http://tangentsoft.net/audio/opamps.html

I'm surprised in all that testing that they didn't put it on a function generator and scope.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Cuular
Generally the Burr browns are supposed to have a more "laid back" general sound, and let more details of the signal come through that other op amps mask or hide. In plain person talk, they sound more like tube amps, and more details of the sound come through. In general.

No wai dude, it's all about the CD player.

Haven't you heard?

BTW-Wrong forum.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Cuular
Generally the Burr browns are supposed to have a more "laid back" general sound, and let more details of the signal come through that other op amps mask or hide. In plain person talk, they sound more like tube amps, and more details of the sound come through. In general.

No wai dude, it's all about the CD player.

Haven't you heard?

BTW-Wrong forum.

This is more "why that brand?" than anything else


...besides, we all know that audio quality depends on the volume knob you use

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Cuular
Generally the Burr browns are supposed to have a more "laid back" general sound, and let more details of the signal come through that other op amps mask or hide. In plain person talk, they sound more like tube amps, and more details of the sound come through. In general.

No wai dude, it's all about the CD player.

Haven't you heard?

BTW-Wrong forum.

This is more "why that brand?" than anything else


...besides, we all know that audio quality depends on the volume knob you use

Everyone knows that wood makes the warmest sounding volume control knobs.

 

[Born2bwire]

Originally posted by: jamesbond007
Perhaps the prestige and social factors that go into it when owning one? I just got a Mini3 and I absolutely LOVE the sound over my old cMoy amp. It's way more spatial and natural. Perfect fit for my HD590 headphones!

I don't know about that. It's not like they're expensive or anything (except for those damn OPA627 but even then it's 36 bucks for two channels). Not all opamps are designed for sound applications, but Burr Brown is a line pretty much devoted to that purpose. So I can see how it kind of got started along those lines.

 

[Modelworks]

Burr Brown is just generally a good line for audio.
Other manufacturers tend to put focus into lots of areas for opamp design.


I'm a fan of the maxim line.
Max4475 is a lot easier to use than the usual opamps from BB.

 

[IAteYourMother]

eh, burr brown, AD, national semi, they all make decent opamps.

 

[IAteYourMother]

Originally posted by: jamesbond007
Perhaps the prestige and social factors that go into it when owning one? I just got a Mini3 and I absolutely LOVE the sound over my old cMoy amp. It's way more spatial and natural. Perfect fit for my HD590 headphones!

lol, opamp != amplifier.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: IAteYourMother

Originally posted by: jamesbond007
Perhaps the prestige and social factors that go into it when owning one? I just got a Mini3 and I absolutely LOVE the sound over my old cMoy amp. It's way more spatial and natural. Perfect fit for my HD590 headphones!

lol, opamp != amplifier.

Actually it can when you are using it as a headphone amp.

 

[uhohs]

the mini^3 uses AD8397 and OPA690 in the high performance version, LMH6643 and LMH6642 in the extended runtime version.

 

[IAteYourMother]

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: IAteYourMother

Originally posted by: jamesbond007
Perhaps the prestige and social factors that go into it when owning one? I just got a Mini3 and I absolutely LOVE the sound over my old cMoy amp. It's way more spatial and natural. Perfect fit for my HD590 headphones!

lol, opamp != amplifier.

Actually it can when you are using it as a headphone amp.

except, the mini3 and cmoy aren't opamps...